Corrosion protected communication connections and related methods

Abstract

Corrosion within a flangeless connector, or at an associated connection of a device or medium (e.g., cable), used in a wireless base station may be reduced by incorporating a seating member, e.g., an O-ring, between the connector and a connector port. Conductive plating selectively applied within the connector port may provide a low-resistance ground connection between the port and the connector, while a non-conductive coating selectively applied to a surface against which the seating member is seated may form a weather-tight seal. The connection between the connector and the connector port is thereby protected from moisture, while exposed surfaces of the connector port re protected by the non-conductive coating.

We claim: 
     
       1. A communications connector comprising:
 a connector body having a first threaded configuration interface configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) cable connector and a second threaded connection interface configured to be received by a threaded connector port, the second connection interface terminating as a grounding ring part forming a continuous closed-loop grounding surface configured to form an electrical connection at a bottom surface of said connector port when said second connection interface is inserted into said connector port. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector as in  claim 1  wherein the connector comprises a mini-DIN connector or an N-type connector. 
     
     
       3. The connector as in  claim 1  wherein the connector is further configured with one or more grip surface portions to adjust the connector. 
     
     
       4. The connector as in  claim 3  wherein the one or more grip surface portions comprise flattened surface portions, raised surface portions, indents, or recessed holes. 
     
     
       5. The connector as in  claim 1  further comprising a seating member retained by a recessed portion formed around an outer perimeter of said second connection interface. 
     
     
       6. The connector as in  claim 5  wherein the seating member comprises a deformable O-ring. 
     
     
       7. A communications device comprising:
 a threaded port configured to receive a threaded connector body, the port having an outer surface, a beveled portion and a grounding surface at a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface comprises a conductive plating and said beveled portion comprises a non-conductive coating. 
 
     
     
       8. The device as in  claim 7  wherein the conductive plating comprises copper plating. 
     
     
       9. The device as in  claim 7 , further comprising an outer surface and an inner surface edge between said beveled portion and said outer surface, wherein said outer surface and said inner surface edge also comprise said non-conductive coating. 
     
     
       10. The device as in  claim 9 , further comprising a threaded portion between said beveled portion and said bottom surface, wherein said threaded portion also comprises said conductive plating. 
     
     
       11. The device as in  claim 7 , further comprising a connector body located within said threaded port such that a ground ring part of said connector body seats against said plated bottom surface. 
     
     
       12. The device as in  claim 11 , wherein said grounding ring part is plated with a same material as said plated bottom surface. 
     
     
       13. The device as in  claim 7 , further comprising a connector body locate within said threaded port and a seating member located between said threaded port and said connector body such that when compressed said seating member forms a seal against said beveled portion. 
     
     
       14. A method for connecting a communications connector to a communications device comprising:
 inserting within a connector port of a communications device a connector body having a threaded connection interface comprising a grounding ring part forming a continuous closed-loop grounding surface at the termination of the connector body; 
 forming an electrical connection between said connector body and said connector port by causing said grounding ring 288 to contact a plated bottom surface at a base of said connector port; and 
 compressing a seating member between said connector body and a surface of said connector port that comprises a non-conductive coating, thereby forming a seal between said connector port and said connector body. 
 
     
     
       15. The method as in  claim 14  wherein the conductive plating comprises copper plating. 
     
     
       16. The method as in  claim 14 , wherein said surface is a beveled surface, and said connector port comprises an outer surface and an inner surface edge between said beveled surface and said outer surface, wherein said outer surface and said inner surface edge also comprise said non-conductive coating. 
     
     
       17. The method as in  claim 16 , wherein said connector port further comprises a threaded portion between said beveled portion and said bottom surface, wherein said threaded portion also comprises said conductive plating. 
     
     
       18. The method as in  claim 14 , wherein said grounding ring at is plated with a same material as said plated bottom surface.